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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a task force on father engagement |
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in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 265, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. TASK FORCE ON FATHER ENGAGEMENT |
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Sec. 265.201. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "task |
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force" means the task force on father engagement established under |
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Section 265.202. |
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Sec. 265.202. ESTABLISHMENT. The task force on father |
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engagement is established to: |
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(1) evaluate services and supports available to |
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fathers in this state; |
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(2) study the impact of father engagement on children, |
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families, and communities in this state; and |
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(3) develop a statewide plan for expanding services |
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and supports available to fathers and other strategies to |
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strengthen father engagement in this state. |
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Sec. 265.203. COMPOSITION. (a) The governor shall |
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determine the number of members of the task force. |
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(b) The task force is composed of: |
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(1) members appointed by the governor, which may |
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include: |
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(A) policy experts in child abuse and neglect |
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prevention, community advocacy, or related fields; |
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(B) directors of relevant state agencies, or the |
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directors' designees, including the department, the Department of |
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State Health Services, the Health and Human Services Commission, |
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the office of the attorney general, and the Texas Workforce |
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Commission; |
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(C) members of the judiciary or their designees; |
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(D) representatives of local government or their |
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designees; |
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(E) representatives of service providers to the |
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department; |
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(F) one representative who is an expert working |
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with and studying fathers and families; |
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(G) one representative from a public or private |
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institution of higher education with experience in father |
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engagement; |
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(H) one representative of a statewide advocacy |
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organization for issues related to family violence; |
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(I) one representative of a faith-based |
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organization; |
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(J) one representative of a nonprofit |
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organization involved in promoting father engagement; and |
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(K) any other members that the governor considers |
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appropriate; |
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(2) one member of the house of representatives, |
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appointed by the speaker of the house, or the member's designee; and |
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(3) one member of the senate, appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor, or the member's designee. |
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Sec. 265.204. PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor shall |
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designate a member of the task force to serve as the presiding |
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officer. |
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Sec. 265.205. VACANCY. A vacancy on the task force shall be |
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filled in the same manner as the original appointment. |
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Sec. 265.206. MEETINGS. The task force shall meet at the |
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call of the presiding officer. |
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Sec. 265.207. DUTIES. The task force shall: |
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(1) receive reports and testimony from individuals, |
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state and local governmental agencies, community-based |
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organizations, faith-based organizations, policy experts, public |
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and private institutions of higher education, and other public and |
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private entities regarding father engagement and evidence-based |
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father education programs; |
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(2) study the social and economic impact of father |
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engagement on children, including in regard to health care, |
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education, child support, child welfare, and the juvenile justice |
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system; and |
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(3) identify and develop strategies to address |
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barriers to father engagement and to otherwise strengthen father |
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engagement in this state. |
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Sec. 265.208. REPORT. (a) The task force shall prepare a |
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report that includes: |
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(1) a description of the task force's activities; |
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(2) the task force's findings; and |
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(3) recommendations for proposed legislation and a |
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statewide plan to expand services and supports to fathers in this |
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state. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2020, the task force shall |
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provide a copy of the report to: |
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(1) the governor; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives; and |
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(4) each standing committee of the senate and the |
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house of representatives with primary jurisdiction over the |
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department. |
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Sec. 265.209. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. Members of the |
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task force serve without compensation and may not be reimbursed for |
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travel or other expenses incurred while conducting the business of |
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the task force. |
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Sec. 265.210. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The department shall |
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provide administrative support to the task force, including |
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reasonably necessary administrative and technical support. |
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Sec. 265.211. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the task force. |
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Sec. 265.212. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and |
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this subchapter expires September 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the lieutenant governor shall appoint the |
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members of the task force on father engagement as required by |
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Subchapter E, Chapter 265, Family Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |